The Agreement (Darkest Lies Trilogy Book 1) by Bethany-Kris (motivational books for men .TXT) 📕

of tools, and all other equipment they needed to breakdown the cars once they arrived. Part of the procedure was also to ensure everything was set up in such a way that it could all be packed and cleared out in under ten minutes if necessary.

Roman had learned the hard way, through past experiences, that he needed to make sure nothing could be traced back to them. It was possible that they may not even have those ten minutes to pack everything up. Every precaution was taken to ensure no serial number could be traced back to him or the bratva.

This wasn’t Brighton Beach.

The Yazovs would gladly throw him under the bus if they got busted, and step back while he landed his ass in prison.

Three luxury vehicles his crew had targeted today—each worth over a million dollars—would sell for triple that amount in auctions overseas. Roman also had a long list of contacts who would be able to get him in touch with exactly the people interested in the particular makes of cars he would have chopped up and ready to ship before the sun broke over the morning horizon.

Once Roman had the cars in his possession, moving them and selling them wouldn’t be a problem. That was the least of his concerns. The crew just needed to do their job, arrive safe and sound, and things had gone according to plan.

If they didn’t, he would have heard something by now from one of his people. It was relatively safe to say Roman could breathe easy—knowing the time on the clock across the warehouse assured him it was so—but he didn’t want to get ahead of himself just yet.

There weren’t too many perks of being fresh-faced in Chicago, honestly. Either way, he appreciated the ones that were sparsely available. One being that nobody knew him here, and no chop shop gig had been executed in a similar fashion in the recent past. Both things worked to his favor at the moment.

So, technically, the world was his oyster.

He didn’t have to worry about watching his back too much, at least not for the moment ... where the police were concerned. Nobody was here watching him expecting him to be doing what he was because his presence wasn’t a big thing in the area. He had the upper hand of taking the scene by surprise. Once the same cars were repeatedly stolen, once a pattern was established—the job would get tougher. He, and the team, would have to work a different game. One similar to the tricks they pulled back home.

For now, it was all cake.

With a cherry on top.

A shitload of money for three neatly packed vehicles that would be every collector’s dream. And it didn’t take them very much effort to nab the cars, either. It wasn’t just about having the right plan. Roman also needed to find the right team—to create the perfect combination of muscle and brain.

He achieved that task by building a crew of hackers, booster specialists, mechanics, and connected people who wouldn’t shy away from a high-stakes chase ... should it come to that.

Not only did the heist have to be executed perfectly, but the cars would then have to be dismantled and hacked in a way that would make transportation easier with minimal—if any—damage. Then, there was the process of putting everything back together, so one had to make sure the team it was delivered to overseas had a decent reputation for doing what they did. The last thing collectors wanted to see on their cars was wear and tear, or even any minor imperfections. They didn’t want to see a hint of the journey their prized possessions had undertaken to reach them. The more damage there was to fix, the less a car made when delivered and auctioned.

All in all, Roman had a good feeling about the job. He looked at the clock again, and then double-checked the time he knew was right with what it showed on his watch, the diamond bezel on the Rolex winking under the warehouse’s bare bulbs overhead.

Ten more minutes, and the crew would be arriving at the warehouse. So, when the phone in his back pocket rang, Roman about jumped out of his skin.

A low fuck fell from his mouth after he’d fished the phone out, and checked the screen to see his father’s number flashing.

Perfect timing.

Roman had a hundred reasons not to answer the call, starting with the fact he wasn’t in the mood to talk with Demyan and ending with his current situation. But because he knew he had probably pushed his father’s patience far enough, he swiped the green phone icon across the screen. He didn’t even put the device to his ear, instead opting to keep it on speakerphone.

Demyan didn’t wait for a greeting before saying, “Son.”

“I’m kinda in the middle of something, I’ll call you back.”

“Hmm, nyet. You’ve ignored my calls all week. And look, I finally have you on the phone. Let’s talk.”

Roman glanced at the warehouse shutters, and then his watch again. Nine minutes. He was terribly good at keeping track of time, but that didn’t stop the urge to keep checking. He barely focused on what his father was saying.

Demyan didn’t miss it. “See, and you’re not even listening now. Why the distraction?”

Roman sighed, raking a hand through his hair. This was not the time to have a deep discussion with his father, however, he welcomed the distraction.

“My first job is taking place—yeah, as we speak.”

Even though Demyan did a good job of keeping his curiosity—and probably excitement, though he wouldn’t admit it—under control, Roman thought he could hear his father’s pitch heighten just a smidge. “Is it in the bank? You think you’re going to secure this?”

Roman went from feeling a sense of pride because he managed to excite his father—to something else entirely because Demyan had to follow it up by questioning the success of the job.

“Of course, I’m securing it. The plan is airtight. I’ve